Tag Archive: Joe Keery

Thanks to some fine writing and acting in Season 2 of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things, actor Joe Keery’s character Steve Harrington did a 180 degree switch from Season One and became one of two heroes of the second season (that other hero of course was Sean Astin’s Bob Newby). But as seen in a teaser released this week for Season 3, poor Steve gets to go through every teenagers’ worst hazing ritual, working the part-time fast-food job. Worse yet, he somehow got pulled into co-starring in a local commercial in the Stranger Things town of good ol’ Hawkins, Indiana.

It looks smartly spot-on for a vintage local mall commercial. Starcourt Mall is sure to be the location for some supernatural activity next year when the series returns. You only wish they’d found a way to get the rights to Happy Joe’s Pizza, but, heck, this new shop will pass for Bresler’s 33 Flavors or Baskin-Robbins. And isn’t that what everyone’s reaction is? Asking: What does this mall have that “my mall” had? So this commercial shows us Claire’s, The Gap, Orange Julius, Regis Hair Salon, Radio Shack, JC Penney, Waldenbooks, Zales, The Original Cookie Co., Wicks ‘n’ Sticks, Burger King, and Sam Goody (our Midwest city malls didn’t have these last three).

The actress is Maya Hawke playing new character Robin, in the teaser released on the series’ Twitter feed.

Before we show the teaser, a quick heads-up: Stranger Things fans who visit San Diego Comic-Con this week should check out Dark Horse Comics’ booth #2615, where they can get a free copy of a new Stranger Things comic book. That’s a panel from the comic above.

First of all, let’s be clear: For goodness sake don’t read anything anywhere about this new season of Stranger Things if you haven’t seen it yet. Pin this and come back when you have.

There are many problems with shows that drop at once as with the Netflix original series (other channels have done this as well). For simple discussion purposes, whether you’re on social media, whether you’re a critic or commentator, or whatever, you don’t quite know when it’s time to delve into a discussion of a show. The other thing is that from a cultural standpoint, how many times have you defined a period of your life with reference to a season of a television series? I grew up as a kid with the networks and a black and white television, followed by the introduction of cable channels and color TV sets. Much of my memory can be tied to the Magnum, p.i. and Simon & Simon years, the Buffy years, the Voyager years, the Chuck years, etc. With one-drop seasons that you gobble up in one bite versus savoring over a few months, that kind of life reference may drift away. Is it important? Not really, but it’s mildly interesting that we may be in some kind of transitional phase, from a pop culture standpoint.

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Still here? Let’s chat about Stranger Things, Season Two.

As a lover of all things retro, and an uber fan of John Carpenter movies, I thought the first season of Stranger Things was a great first season. But I wasn’t convinced it was the real deal–that the Duffer Brothers were going to be able to pull it off again in a second season. After the anticipation and wait, I couldn’t have been happier with the result–except for one factor, but more on that later. In fact I think Season Two was better than Season One. Probably not lots better, but enough that I had more fun with the show this round.

We saved the best for last: Netflix’s full trailer for Stranger Things, Season 2. If you thought the trailer previewed earlier here at borg.com for Ready Player One didn’t provide an adequate 1980s retro fix, then you’re in store for something awesome. Dragon’s Lair! Vincent Price and Thriller? A nicely creepy vibe from The Sixth Sense, only here, “I see Demogorgons.”